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LFLAMMANG.

PISTON.

APPLxcATIoN FILED MAY23,1918.

'1,336,691 Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FLAMMANG, OF ST. LOUS, MISSOURI, .ASSIGNOR T0 OTMAR G. STARK, OF ST. LOUIS, DIISSOURI.

l rrs'roN.

Tov all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN FLAMMANG, acitizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have im ented a new and useful Piston, of which the following is a specification.

rThis invention relates to pistons.

in object of the inventionis to provide an improved piston consisting of an eX- pansible upper portion arranged to impart pressure against the cylinder wall in which the piston is mounted throughout the circumference of the piston without being affected by the wrist pin which is mounted in the piston.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved piston of the character mentioned which will impartl pressure against the cylinder wall throughout the circumference ofthe piston without the use of piston rings or packing. v

@ther objects will appear from the following description in which reference is made to the drawings illustrating the piston in its different forms while being constructed, and in which-v v Figure l is a view illustrating the casting from which the piston is constructed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the piston body after thevupper eXpansible portion thereof has been. divided into separate segmental sections.- l v v Y Fig.' 4 isa side elevation ofthe casting after the wrist pin is mounted and before the piston body has been finished to size.

Fig. 5 is a sideV elevation of the piston body finished to size while the upper eX- pansible portion thereof is compressed to the form and size of the parts when within a cylinder.

Fig. 6 is a view partly in section illustrating'the piston within a cylinder in which it is to operate.

The pistonl body is composed of a hollow casting comprising a lower ring l, an

upper, ring 5 2, a` plurality of connections 3 integrally uniting the lower and upper ring7 and bosses 4.integral with thelower ring. -As illustrated'there are four of the connections 3, the same being equally spaced. The bosses 4 are on diametrically opposite sides between adjacent pairs of connections 3.

. cylinder wall.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Alu- 13, 1920.

Application filed May 23, 1918.

Serial No. 236,193.

is in integral connection with each of the `connections 3. in the particular form illustrated the upper ring is divided into four segmental sections by cuts 5. The cuts 5 are midway between the connections 3 which, as stated, are equally spaced so that the several segmental sections of the upper ring are all of equal lengt u Next, the segmental sections of the upper ring are compressed or drawn toward each other to the positions which they occupy when the piston is placed within the cylinder for which it is intended. lVhen the segmental sections of the upper ring are compressed or lrawn toward each other the connections 3 are bent in opposition to the resiliency of the metal and, while the segmental sections of the upper ring are in their compressed positions, the piston body is finished by turning or grinding the same to a size in which the diameter of the upper ring while compressed is the same as the internal diameter of the cylinder for which the piston isV intended; and the lower portion of the piston body including the connections 3, the supports for the bosses 4 and the ring l, is finished to a size having a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the cylinder for which the piston is intended; so that when the piston body is placed within the cylinder the upper ring only will contact with the cylinder wall while the lower portion of the piston body will be free to operate even when heated without interference by contact with the The lower ring is formed with a number of circumferential grooves 6 which will contain oil for lubricating the piston and-cylinder when the piston is in operation.

. The wrist pin 7 is mounted in holes Aformed in the bosses 4 and in no way interferes with the freedom of expansion and contraction of the upper ring, since the only connection between the wrist pin supports` and the upper lring is through the lower ring and the connections 5.

A removable top or head plate 8 is applied to the piston body, the same being provided with a beveled circumferential portion 9 fitting against the beveled upper edges l() of the segments forming the upper ring. The top or head plate is also provided with a flange ll extending into the upper ring and pro 'ided at its lower extremity with a circumferential lange l2 engaging under a shoulder formed within the upper ring so that it is impossible for the top or head plate to become separated or detached 'from the piston body. rilhe provision of the contacting beveled surfaces 9 and l0 enables the top or head plate to exert an expanding force against the segmental sections of the upper ring when pressure is applied tothe top or head plate as when 'the explosion occurs within theV cylinder.

Thus, in addition to the pressure exerted against the cylinder wall by the segmental sections of the upper ring as a result of the resiliency oi' the metal, said segmental sections are additionally pressed against the cylinder wall by the top or head plate when the explosion occurs.

The spaces between the adjacent ends oi? the segmental sections of the upper ring formed by the cuts 5 are prei'erably closed bykeys 'l seated in grooves formed in the ring sections and extending into the head plate. As shown in Figs. 5 and o, the keys 13 extend across the spaces or cuts 5 and close the same to prevent the passage of gas, steam lor any other operating agent through said spaces.

From the foregoing it will be understood that my improved piston wholly dispenses with the use or need of piston rings or packing'of any character which are necessary in connection with pistons o'l ordinary construction. It is also clear that the segmental Vsections oi' the upper ringa` will exert uniorm pressure against the cylinder wall throughout the circumference of the piston and that the resiliency of the metal tor this purpose is assisted by the explosive torce against the top or head plate of the piston,

dueto the contacting beveled surfaces and 10. l

It will be understood that there may be variations in the construction of the piston without in the least departing trom the principle thereof. I do not restrict myself to the precise form and arrangement illustrated and described, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A. piston comprising a hollow body composed of a lower ring, an upper ring divided into segmental sections, .and connections integrally uniting said sections with the lower ring; and a wrist pin supported by the piston body independently ot saidconnections. Y Y

Q. A piston comprising a hollow body composed oi a lower ring, an upper ring divided into segmental sections. and connections integrally uniting said sections with the ylower ring; a wrist pin supported by the piston'body independently of said connections; and a top or head plate in connection with the upper ring.

3. A piston comprising a hollow `body composed ont a lower ring, an upper ring divided into segmental sections, and resilient connections integrally uniting said sections respectively with the lower ring and yoperating to hold said sections in annular alinement in a size in excess ot the internal diameter ot the cylinder tor which the piston is intended; and a wrist pin supported by the piston body independently olf said connections and said segmental sections.

e. A piston comprising a hollow body composed of a lower ring, an upper ring divided into segmental sections, and resilient connections integrally uniting said sections respectively with the lower ring and operating to hold said sections in annular alinement in a size in excess of the internal diameter ot the cylinder for which the piston is intended; and a wrist pin supported by the lower ring of the piston body wholly out ot contact with said connections and the segmental sections of the upper p ring.

5. A piston comprising a hollow body composed of a lower ring, an upper ring divided into segmental sections, and resilient connections integrally uniting said sections respectively with the lower ring and operating to hold said sections in annular alinement ina size in excess of the internal diameter oithe cylinder for which the piston is intended; a wrist pinsupported byV the piston body independently of said connections and said segmental sections; vand a top plate 11i-connection with the segmental lsections of the upper ring.

6. A piston comprising a hollow body composed ot' a lower ring, an upper ring di- '7. A piston comprising a hollow body composed of a lower ring, an upper ring di- Vvided into segmental sections, and connections integrally uniting said sections respectively withthe lower ring; a'wrist pin supported by the lower ring indeoenitently ot said connections; a top plate in connection with the Vupper ring; interlocking means holdingv the' top plate in position; and elements closing the spaces between the segmental sections of the upper ring.

S. A piston composed of an expansible upper ring having its upper inner edge beveled, a top plate seated upon the upper ring and having a circumferential beveled surface bearing against the beveled surface of the upper ring, and means holding the top plate in position.

9. A piston composed of an upper ring divided into expansible sections having.

their inner upper edges beveled, a top plate seated upon the upper ring and `having a circumferential beveled surface bearing against the beveled surfaces of said sections, whereby pressure against' the top plate will expand the upper ring, and means holding the top plate in Connection with the piston body.

l0. A piston composed of an upper ring divided into expansible sections having their inner upper edges beveled, a top plate seated upon the upper ring and having a circumferential beveled surface bearing against the beveled surfaces of said sections, whereby pressure against the top plate Will expand the upper ring7 means holding the top plate in connection with the piston body, and elements closing the spaces between the sections of said ring.

11. A piston comprising a supporting part, a plurality of resilient extensions eX- tending upwardly from the supporting part, a ring segment in connection with each of said extensions arranged to be pressed against the cylinder wall in which the piston is to operate by the resiliency of said extensions, and a top plate for the piston connected with said ring segments.

12. A piston comprising a supporting part, a plurality of resilient extensions extending upwardly from the supporting part, a ring segment integral with each of said extensions and arranged to be pressed against the cylinder wall in which the piston is to be mounted by the resiliency of said extension, and a top plate Jfor the piston connected with said ring segments and arranged to press the same outwardly, and elements closing the spaces between the ring sections.

JOHN FLAMMANG. 

